Sheet-piling mechanism



March 8, 192'?.

SHEET FILING MEVCHANI SM 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 24, 1925 www n f n M n wx Q :H A Q. s .E.u. m H... mhww www l H W. wm @W Lm, N Ob TMW 1mm. hh .I mm 0&7 uhhh L .|.||H.|I -m d bm OQ 11./ v wm @www am n 2 nu 1 ,OU www wok n Q fok I l l s l l l uw wm mm @mmm el@ Q fA NN WN n 2 mw @N Il Hdl li? i ll4|||||1 in'lllll ll|l||l1l| l l|.-| |l lml.ih.l| Il wl .l .lr

March 8,1927. lgo@ W. F. CONKLIN ET ALv SHEET FILING MEGHANI SM Filed Mrch 24. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 L@ N am INVENTOR March 8 1927 w. F. coNKLlN ET AL SHEET FILING MECHANISM Filed March 24. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet L5 QN m am h INVENTOR y March s, 1927. 1,619,804

W. F. CONKLIN ET AL.

SHEET FILI NG MECHANI SNI Filed March 24, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patente.: yMn, s, 1921.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. CONKLIN, OF TARENTUM, HOMER S. HOPKINS, OF GRAFTON, AND 'JOHN M. HOVER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHEET-FILING MECHANISM.

Our invention relates to sheet-piling mechanism, designed particularly for handling metal sheets.

It is one object of our invention to pro'- vide a sheet-piling mechanism which receives sheets from a feeding mechanism and automatically stacks them in a pile.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

` Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a sheet-metal piling mechanism embodying Aone form of our invention, parts being in section on the line I-I of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, an elevation of the invention with parts broken away; Fig. 3, a section on the line III-IH of Fig. 2, parts being broken away;. Fig. 4, a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a section on the line V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a detail section ofone side of the table or dropper-frame for the sheets; Fig. 7, a detail section of a portion of said frame; Fig. 8, a view of Fig. 7 rotated toward the observer ninety degrees, portions being omitted and added; Fig. 9, an end view of the tabletripping means, the base therefor being in vertical section; Fig. 10, a diagrammatic view of the electric tripping. circuit for the table; and Fig. 11, a diagrammatic view of the table, its support and feeding apron together with a pile of sheets. Fig. 12 is a 30fsection on the line XII-XII of Fig. 3.

On the drawings, 1 designates two vertical oppositely dlsposed columns or posts, shown as I-beams. The anchorage for their lower ends is not shown except conventionally in Fig. 11, but can be readily supplied. Their top ends are connected by the horizontal cross-beam 2. l

The frame 2a of our lnechanism has vertical travel between the columns and is guided on the columns by the rollers or wheels 3 carried by the outerfaces of the sidemembers 4 and 5 of the frame, some Vof the rollers running on the front edge of the columns and some on the rear edge thereof. The rear ends of the members 4 and 5 are connected together by the hollow box-like cross-member 6, in which the horizontal right and left screw `7 is mounted. vThe screw is rotated by the crank 8 or other means. The front ends of Vtheframe have their side members 4 and -5 connected by the T-bar 9 and the platform 10 above the T-bar. y The side members 4 and 5 are provided `at their upper and lower edges with the wide inturned flanges or guards 11 and 12, spaced apart wider than the width of the sheets to be piled.

The platform 10 is suspended from the cross beam 2 by two ropes 13 which pass down and under the sheaves 14 secured to the platform, and under and up from the sheaves 15, also secured to the platform.

From the sheaves 15 the ropes' go to thev vhoistmg device represented conventionally by the numeral 16.

17 is a motor mounted on the platform 10 and drives through the reduction gear housing 18, the shaft 19 having bearings in the posts 20 standing on the platform 10. The shaft 19 carries the pinion 21 which meshes with the spur-gear 22 on the shaft 23 having bearings in the post 24 and the right hand post 20.

The shaft 19 carries the sprocket pinion or wheel 25 over which the sprocket chain 26 runs, the lower end of the `chain running on the sprocket pinion or wheel 27 on one of the trunnions-28 supported in the hangers suspended from the platform 10. The trunnions 28 carry the upper sheet-feeding roll 29, the lower roll 30 cooperating therewith being supported in the blocks 31 attached to the hollow cross-bar 32, in which rotates the shaft 33 having the crank-arms 34 at. its ends beyond the side members 4 and5.

The shaft 23 carries beyond the side member 4 the sprocket-wheel 36 which carries the sprocket-chain 37 running on the sprocket-wheel 38 on the shaft 33.

The shaft 19 carries the sprocket-Wheel 39 which carries the sprocket-chain 40 running on the sprocket-wheel 41k which turns loosely on the bar 32. Thev sprocket-Wheel 41 carries rigidly therewith the sprocketwheel 42 which drives the sprocket-chain 43 running on the sprocket wheel 44 on the conveyor shaft 45. The shaft 45 is ksupported by the side hars 46 of the conveyor shafts Eiland 52, having their rear ends mounted in the nuts or ocks 53 and 54, respectively. The,v front ends of the shafts 51 and 52 are mounted respectively in the hangers 55 and 56 suspended by and slidable along the T-bar 9.y 57 is a right and left threaded shaftworking Ain the hangers as nuts, and mounted in the side members 4 and 5. One end of the shaft 57 has the bevel gear 58 which meshes with the bevel gear 59 on the shaft 60 having therein the universal joint 61, as the front end of the shaft'is at a higher level than the rear end '.thereof. The rear end of the shaft is connected to the shaft 7 by the bevel gears 62. The shafts 7 and 57 are so threaded that when the crank or handle 8 is turned, the shafts 51 and 52 are caused to approach each other or to recede from each other to accommodate the `different widths `of the sheets to be received on therollers. Y,

The shafts 51 and 52 have attached t v their sides vertical plates 63 through which ivot bolts 64 extend, the bolts serving as earin s for the ho 'izontal dropper rollers 65. T e rows of ollers 65 proJecting toward each other from the shafts 51* and 52 are each provided with a bar or guide 66 held in place at the .free ends of the rollers by the said bolts 64. The guides 66 prevent the advancing ends of the sheets from going v beneath any of the rollers 65.

In front of the rolls 29 and 30 and below the roll 29 is an angle bar 76 extending transversely across the machine and having the ends of its horizontal member 67 eX- tending through 'slots 68 in the side members 4 and 5 and the blocks 69 attached to the outer faces thereof. The said ends of the member 67 are pivotally connected to the cranks 34 by the pitmen 70 by the pivots 71 and 72. I

The angle bar 76 has the upwardly eX- tending member 73 between the side members 4 and 5, the member 73 being cut away at 74 to allow the angle bar to pass beneath the roll 30. The member has at each end a horizontal slot 75.

Near the ends of the roll 30 we provide two tripping attachments or frames 78 for controlling the oscillation ofthe shafts 51 and 52. We will describe one only as they are alike. On the rear face of the member 73 we mount on therr pivot 77 the tripper frame 78 havin the frontv member 79 extending upward y Vand rearwardly and terminating near the line of the pass of the rolls 29 and 30. Near the upper end of the member 79 there is mounted the roller 80 in line with a metal sheet moving toward the roll pass.- From the upper end of the member 79 there is a downwardly rojecting sheet-pusher member 81 having t e toe 82 adapted 'to engage the under side of the member 67 and prevent the spring 83 from lifting .the tripping attachment beyond the position shown, in Figs. 1 and 9.

One end of the tripping frame has the movable switch member 84 normally held by the oppositely-acting springs 85 out of engagement with the electric contact 86. The member 79 has the finger 87 adapted to engage and pass the switch member 84 when the member 79 is depressed. When the tripping frame moves upwardly the toe first engages the switch member 84 and moves it into engagement with the contact 86 and then passes the switch member and assumes the position shown in Fig. 9. To the switch member 84 and the contact 86 are connected the wires 88 and 89 in series with the battery 90 and the winding 91 of the electromagnet 91. The magnet when energized operates the clutch operating lever 92 which operates the clutch marked 93 to connect the shaft 23 to the gear 22. This clutch may be any type which is adapted to open after the gear'22 turns a complete revolution.

A. sheet 94 coming from theY conveyor belts 49 engages the rollers 80, depresses the frames 78, and enters \the pass of the rolls 29 and 30 which feed the sheet 94 to the upper side of the dropper table, that is, upon the rollers 65.- As soon as the sheet has passed the rollers 80, the tripping frame is pushed up by the s ring 83 and causes the tripping circuit to e closed, asalready described. The clutch is thrown in by 'the lever 92 and the shafts 23 and 33 make Qne complete revolution and stop, the sprocket wheels 36 and 38 being of the same size.

The rotation of the shaft 33 causes the pitmen to push the angle bar 76 one stroke rearwardly and one stroke forwardly, the ends' of the angle bar member 67 riding in the slots 68. `When the bar 76 moves backvwardly, the member 81 of the tripper frame 78 engages the'end of the sheet 94 and shoves it to a definite position on the dropper table.

When the bar 76 moves rearwardly it pushes rearwardly the two bars 95 and 96 aving a jaw 97 fitting over the top edge of the member 73 of the angle bar. The bars 5 and 96 extend through the hangers 55 and 56, and they each bear beyond the hangers two vertical rollers 98. Between the pairs of rollers are the horizontal guide bars 9,9and100, pivoted at front ends to the`horizontal angle plates 101 and 102, whichare pivoted at their rear ends to the blocks 5 3. and 54 by the ears 103 thereon, the pivot 104 for one of the plates being shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The bars 99 and 100 have their middle portions inclined right and left respectively, a's shown in Fig. 3,

`their rear or free ends being normally seated against the stops 105 on the outer edgesof the lates 101 and 102, there being springs 106 etween the bars and the stops 107 on the inner edges of the plates. The springs are stii enough to resist compression and cause the plates 101 and 102 to move inwardly or toward eachother, when the bars 95 and 96 move rearwardly. The pla-tes have the vertical flanges or members 108 which engage the lateral edge of the metal sheets and accurately center them as they are 'pushed to their linal position on the dropper table rollers 65. The ianges 108 have the depending portions 112 to guide the sheets as they are dropped from the rollers to the pile 10.9. In case a sheet is of eXtra width and prevents the full inward movement of the plates 101 and 102, the b ars 95 and 96 will push the bars 99 and 100 inwardly, the springs 106 yielding and -thereby preventing damage to the parts.

The forward end of the bars 51 and 52. are provided with cam-plates 110 and 111, having their horizont-al front ends in the slots in the bar76. rIhe portions of the calnplates attached to the bars 51 and 52 are vertical, the cam-plates being given a long quarter turn or twist between their ends, the turns being such as to allow the slots 75 to rotate the cam plates ninety degrees as the angle bar 76 moves from one extreme position to the other. rllhe front ends of the cam-plates are horizontal for a suflicient distance to allow the pusher member 81 to move the sheets for some distance before the twists in the cam plates cause the bars 51 and 52 to swing the rollers 65 downwardly. The parts are so proportioned and timed that the sheets are dropped when the pusher member 81treaches a definite place so that the front end of the pile'109 shall be squared and vertical.

In Fig. 11 we show a diagram to -illustrate the fact that the frame 2n can be raised to various levels as the pile 109' of sheets grows.v The conveyor indicated bythe side bars 46 thereof may be swung on its front end so as to take any position between the dotted and full line positions shown. The frame 2 when lowered completely, as shown in -full lines, allows access to the pile 109 for applying thereto suitable hoisting devices. When the frame 2a is to be lowered below the top of the pile 109, the crank must first be turned to cause the dropper table members to move laterally lbetween the flanges or guards 11 and 112, and 12 and 113, so that the rollers and associated devices will not be accidentally damaged and so that the rollers will be withdrawn past the sides of the pile 109. J l/Ve claim- 1. In a' sheet-metal piling machine, means for supporting sheets above a position where they are to be piled, one upon another, means for feeding sheets to said position, means for moving the supporting means from beneath the sheets and beyond the sides of the pile of Sheets and for then lowering the supporting means at the sides of the pile.

2. In a sheet-metal piling machine, means for supporting sheets above a position where they are tobepiled, one upon another, means for feeding sheets'to said position, means for moving the supporting means from beneath the sheets and beyond the sides of the pile of sheets and for then lowering the supporting means to the bottom of the pile.

3. In a sheet-metal piling machine, a frame, means supported by the frame and temporarily supporting sheets directly above a position Where they are to be piled, one upon another, means for moving the supporting means from beneath the sheets, means foi-,raising and lowering the frame, and means for moving the supporting means laterally on the frame beyond t-he sides ot' a pile of sheets deposited by the supporting means, whereby the frame with said supporting means may be lowered opposite the edges ot the piled sheets.

4. In a sheet-metal piling machine, means temporarily supporting sheets directly above a position where'they are to be piled, one` upon another, means 4for moving the supporting means from beneath the sheets, means for raising and lowerlng the supporting means, and means for moving the supp portmg means laterally beyond the sides of a pile of sheets deposited by the supporting means, whereby the said supporting means may be lowered to permit access to the sides of the pile for applying hoisting devices and other purposes, in combination with a shield protecting the said supporting means when the latterhave been moved laterally.

5. In a sheet-metal piling machine, a frame, a. pair' of spaced oscillatory shafts, devices carried by the shafts and arranged to re,-

ceive sheets fed thereupon, two spiral plates, means movable longitudinally ot' the plaies and. causing them -to rotate the shafts simu'ltaneously to release the sheets from said devices.

6. In a sheet-metal piling machine, a traine, a pair of spaced oscillatory shafts. devices carried by the shafts and arranged to receive sheets fed thereupon, spiral means oscillatory with the shafts, means movable longitudinally of the spiral means and causing the turning of the shafts simultaneously to release the sheets from said devices.

7. In a sheet-metal piling machine, a pair of horizontal shafts, opposing devices carried-by the shafts and arranged to support the opposite sides ot' sheets fed thereupon, means preventing the leading ends of the sheets from passing beneath any of said devices, and means for simultaneously rotating the shafts to release the sheets from the said devices. 4

8. In a sheet-metal piling machine, a pair of horizontal shafts, opposing devices car-v before they are dropped and While they are on the table.

10. In a sheet-metal piling machine, a pair of horizontal shafts, means carried by the shafts for receiving and supporting the opposite sides of sheets fed thereupon, means for simultaneouslymoving the shafts toward each other and away from each other to accommodate sheets of different widths, and means adjustable with the shafts and movable laterally to center the sheets on the table. 11. In a sheet-metal piling machine, a pair of horizontal shafts, means carried by the shafts for receiving and supporting the oposite sides of sheets fed thereupon, means or simultaneously moving the shafts toward each other and away from each other to accommodate sheets of different widths, and means adjustable with the shafts and movable laterally to center the sheets on the table, said last means comprising a pair of bars pivoted at their rear ends and having depending flanges to engage the side edges of the sheet. 4 12. In a sheet-metal piling machine, a pair of horizontal shafts, means carried by the shafts for receiving and supporting the 0pposite sides of sheets fed thereupon, means for simultaneously moving the shafts toward eachother and away from each other to accommodate sheets of different widths, and means adjustable with the shafts and movable laterally to center the sheets on the table, said last means comprising a `pair of bars pivoted at their rear ends and having depending flanges to engage the side edges of the sheet and also having depending guides to direct the sheets downwardly When dropped from the said receivingand supporting means.

13. In a sheet-metal pihng machine, a table upon which sheets are fed preparatory to dropping them to form a pile beneath,

means movable laterally at each side of the sheets to center' them on the table, vand means for movin the first means toward each other, the said last means'` including a yielding connection, effective when an extra stiff enough to cause both plates to move together normally, but weak enough to. yield when the said flanges engage the edges of an extra Wide sheet.

15. In a sheet-metal piling machine, a pair .of sheet-feeding rolls, a table at the rear of the rolls to receive the sheets, means for discharging the sheets from the table, means displacedby a sheet as it enters the roll pass and released as the sheet passes beyond said means, and means set in operationy upon the return of the displaced means, for setting the ldischarging means in operation.

16. In a sheet-metal piling machine, a pair of sheet-feeding rolls, a table at the rear of the rolls to receive the sheets, sheet-pushing means depressed by a sheet entering the roll pass and released at about the time the sheet leaves the roll pass, and means for moving the said first means rearwardly to push the sheet to al definite position.

17. In a sheet-metal piling machine, means for Vtemporarily supporting the opposite edges of horizontal sheets and then releasing them to form a pile, and means for first moving the supporting means laterally beyond the sides of the pile and then downwardly, anda shield to receive the supporting means when so moved laterally.

18. In a s heet-metal piling machine, a table for temporarily supporting sheets and then releasing them to form a pile beneath the table, means for raising the table to keep the latter a selected distance above the top of the pile, and means feeding sheets to the table and having vertical travel with the vertical travel of the table.

' 19. In a sheet-metal piling machine, a pair 'of sheet-feeding rolls, a table at'the rear of the rolls to receive the sheets, means for pushing the sheets to a definite position beyond the pass/of the rolls, and means controlling the operation of the pushing means and restrained by the sheets in the roll pass and released from the sheets at about the time they leave the roll pass.

In testimony whereof we herunto aix our signatures this 18th day of March, 1925.

,WM. F. CONKLIN.

HOMER S.,HOPKINS. JOHN M. HOVER. 

